Heavy fighting erupted between Sudan's army and southern Sudanese forces in the disputed oil-rich town of Abyei today, according to reports from aid workers in the region.
The fighting, which first erupted last week after a local dispute, is the latest of a series of clashes in the tense central Abyei region claimed by both Khartoum and semi-autonomous South Sudan.
More than three years after a 2005 north-south peace deal to end decades of civil war, the sides have not agreed on borders or a government for the region.
Gunfire broke out at 4 a.m. local time (3 a.m. Irish time), and clashes continued for at least four hours, according to the reports.
"The fighting was heavy," said one aid worker. "It was between SAF (Sudan's Armed Forces) and the SPLA (the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army). We think it was a counter-attack by the SPLA.
"We are doing everything we can to calm the situation."
UN spokesman Kouider Zerouk confirmed fighting had broken out again in the town, but said staff were still getting full details of the attack.
The UN Mission in Sudan, which has evacuated many of its staff from the area, on Monday said it had started distributing food supplies to up to 50,000 people who had fled the fighting.
The latest clashes came after failed attempts to reach a ceasefire between north and southern troops. Commentators said last week's fighting was highly localised.
But the incident has underlined wider tensions over the region. A report by US campaign group Enough in January described Abyei as "Sudan's Kashmir" that could eventually spark another civil war if left unresolved.
More than three years after a 2005 north-south peace deal to end decades of civil war, the sides have not agreed on borders or a government for the region.
Gunfire broke out at 4 a.m. local time (3 a.m. Irish time), and clashes continued for at least four hours, according to the reports.
"The fighting was heavy," said one aid worker. "It was between SAF (Sudan's Armed Forces) and the SPLA (the southern Sudan People's Liberation Army). We think it was a counter-attack by the SPLA.
"We are doing everything we can to calm the situation."
UN spokesman Kouider Zerouk confirmed fighting had broken out again in the town, but said staff were still getting full details of the attack.
The UN Mission in Sudan, which has evacuated many of its staff from the area, on Monday said it had started distributing food supplies to up to 50,000 people who had fled the fighting.
The latest clashes came after failed attempts to reach a ceasefire between north and southern troops. Commentators said last week's fighting was highly localised.
But the incident has underlined wider tensions over the region. A report by US campaign group Enough in January described Abyei as "Sudan's Kashmir" that could eventually spark another civil war if left unresolved.